Commissioner won’t seek re-election

By MIKE HELM

Columbus County Commissioner Kipling Godwin announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election to a second term in District 6. The announcement comes one week after Fair Bluff farmer Howell Strickland announced his candidacy.

Godwin was elected in 2002, upsetting incumbent Randy Britt of Fair Bluff in a three-way race with Ricky Williamson.

“I am grateful for the honor the people of Columbus County have given me to serve as a commissioner,” Godwin said. “It has been a great experience and I have learned a lot about county government. At this point in my life, I simply have other personal and career goals to work toward.”

Godwin, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Carolina State University, indicated that he plans to pursue a post-graduate degree. “Public service is an honorable thing and I don’t rule out the possibility of returning to public life sometime in the future,” he added.

Godwin recently left his job as director of Sylvan Learning Center in Whiteville. He said that it was a strain fulfilling his job duties, which required him to spend some days in Lumberton and Shallotte, and fulfill his duties as county commissioner.

“Kip Godwin will be missed,” County Commissioner Bill Memory said. “He is a very intelligent young man. We had a good working relationship the last three years. I will miss him, the board will miss him and Columbus County will miss him. I am sure the people in his district will replace him with someone as qualified as Kip.”

Godwin’s 2006 plan included goals for each of the county’s 28 departments. One overriding goal was each department’s participation in the further development of the county’s website, www.columbusco.org.

“I believe online services and web-based information will become more and more important to our citizens,” Godwin said. “High-speed Internet service is becoming more readily available throughout the county and more people are looking to do business online.”

A graduate of Williams Township High School, Godwin lives in a house behind his alma mater. The night Williams Township School burned down was an emotional time for him. He spent most of the night and morning of the fire helping cook meals for firefighters who fought the blaze.

Godwin said he supported rebuilding the school auditorium, but he and others who want an auditorium have not found enough political support to find $3 million to fund the project.

The filing period for elected offices starts in February.